Explosive-engine.



J. F. WOOLF. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.31,1910;

Patentd Aug". 30,1910.

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J. I. WOOLF. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.31,1910.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

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JAY r. WOOLE, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR or WOOLF, oi"MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

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nxPLosIvE-Enemn Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 36),193mg Application riled January 31, 1910. Serial No. 540,959.

'l '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJAY F. Woom, 'a citizen of the United States, residingat Minnea oils, in the county of Hennepin and State 0? Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines,

- of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to explosive engines,

and its principal objects are to improve the means for introducing thecharging mixture to the compression space and for conducting ittherefrom to the explosion chamber. In furtherance of these objects Isupport in the interior of the lower portion of the cylinder circularpartitions that provide an intermediate annular inlet port which iscontrolled by-a ring suction-valve arranged to be lifted from its seatby the suction provided in the compression space by the outward movementof the piston. A sleeve slidable on and with .the piston and-providedwith ports is reciprocated by the piston movements to alternately openand close an exhaust port and a passage-way leading from. thecompression chambento the explosion chamber, and to and from contactwith the suction-valve.

My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1' is a central vertical section of an explosive engine embodyingmy improvements, showing the piston at the limit of its downwardmovement and showing both the charging and exhaust ports 0pen and theinlet port to the compression chamber closed. Fig. 2 is a similar viewof portions of the engine casing, piston, sleeve, and suctionvalve, thelatter two devices, which constitulle the controlling valves, beingshown in their closed positions; that is, in the positime they occupwhen the piston has started on its upward stroke and has moved only farenough to lift the sleeve to position to close the sleeve'ports and theexhaust outlet,

but not far enough to produce the amount of suction required to lift thesuction-valve from its seat on the inletport. Fig. 3 is a similar viewshowing the piston at the limit of its outward stroke and the sleeveports and exhaust port closed (as in Fig. 2) but showing thesuction-valve lifted from its seat by the suction created in thecompression chamber by the upward movement of the piston to permit thegas to flow through the inlet into the compression space. Fig. 4

shows a central vertical section of the cylinder, the sleeve andsuction-valve 1n the pos tlons shown-1n Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows ahorizontal section on the plane of the broken line ww of Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a similar section on the line ww of Fig. 4, showing the constructionof the inlet port. F ig. 7 is a vertical section of the cylinderintended to show particularly the ribs for guiding the sleeve andsupporting the;-.annular structure which provides the inletport. Fig. 8shows an elevationof the sleeve detached. Andv Fig. 9 is a horizontalsection on the plane of the line 22 of Fig.8 showing the-construc-v tionof the portion of the sleeve in which the ports are provided. i

In the drawings 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, designate the castingsconstituting a suit able engine casing. The members 1 and 2 are joinedto the widened lower portion 5 of the cylindrical member 3 to form thecrank case and main compression chamber 6; the upper member 4 providesthe explosion chamber 7 and has the usual water-jacket 8 surrounding itand an annular space 9 constituting an exhaust passageway outside thewater-jzugket and a discharge outlet 10'connected with the space 9. Theouter wall of the member 4 extends a suitable distance below the innerormain base 11 of'that member and seats upon and is secured to anoutward flange 12 on the top of the cylinder 3,

thus providing a circular space 13 between the top of the cylinder andthe base'll of the member-4 which serves as the exhaust port or chamber.N

In the lower portion of the cylinder 3 andpreferably cast therewith-andsupported by ribs l leformed at intervals on the cylinder walls areupright concentric partition walls 15 and 16, which are separated by anintermediate annular space 17 that is open at the top but closed at thebottom by a base 18 uniting the lower ends of the two partition walls.This space 17 is in communication with an admission opening 19 formed inone. side of the cylinder and constitutes the port through which the gasmay pass on its way to the compression chamber.

Within the cylinder is a loose and slidable sleeve 20, the inner surfaceof which is in vertical alinernent with the inner face of the partition,wall 15. The reciprocatory move,

primary outlet of the explosion no merits of the sleeve are guided atits lower end by lugs 21 formed on its sides'andwhic'ht contact withportions of the cylinder ribs 14,

and are guided at its upper end by the contact of an outward rim 22thereon with the face of an inward rim 23 formed around the upper end'ofthe cylinder: The downward movement of the .sleeve' may be limited bythe seating on the cylinder rim 23 of a flange 24 formed on the end ofthe sleeve; and its upward movement is limited by contact of its endwith the base 11 of-the casting 4.

The piston body- 25 is provided with theusual packing-rings 26 on itsupper portion and is arran ed 1n frictional contact-with the-sleeve anthe port wall by which it is guided. The piston'is' connected by a rod27 in the usual way to the crank-pin 28 of Y the crank-shaft 29 and theusual counterbal ance 30 for the crank is provided. The pis ton consistsof a cylindrical body open at the bottom and closedat the top by a head31 ered by the piston-head when both the piston and sleeve are in .theirlowermost posi-,

tions (Fi .1), and to be closed by contact with the ace of the rim- 23when the sleeve is in its uppermost position (Figs. 2 and 3). Intheformer position thesleeve ports 32 p'ermit'the com ressed gas in thecom ression chamber which as a whole inc udes the chamber 6, the spacewithin the piston andthe passage-way 33) to flow through the passage-way33 to the explosion chamber, its course being indicated by the ar-""rows a 111- Fig. 1.

- .in Fig. 3, the course being indicated by the The inlet port 17 iscontrolled by a ring suction-valve or check-valve 34 that looselyencircles the piston and seats on the partition members 15 and 16 and isadapted to be lifted by the suction produced-in the compression spacesby the upward movement of the piston to allow the gas to flow throughthe port 17 into the passage-way 33 and downward into the chamber 6, asillustrated arrow 6. The valve 34: may be arranged to seat itself bygravity, but preferably it is forced to its seat by the sleeve 20. whenthe latter is moved downward by the downstroke of the piston; that is,from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shownin Fig. 1.

In operation, starting with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1,the first eflt'ect of the upward movement of the piston is to contactwith t slow that lift the sleeve from the position shown in Fig. 1 tothat shown in Fig. 2, thereby clos- 13 and-fre'ein the suction-valve 34cm e sleeve. Then, during the further upward movementof the piston theing the sleeve ports 32 and the exhaust fport suction created in thecompression chamber and passage-way 33 lifts the suction-valve from itsseat and draws a fresh su Ply the charging mixture through the inlet 19into the chamber or port- 17 and thence through the passage-way33downward into the mam compression chamber, as indicated in Fig. 3.

When the charge in theexplosion (F 7 has been exploded (which is doneinthe usual way) and the piston is started on its downward or workingstroke, its frictional contact with. the sleeve 20 moves that mem I heralong with it, from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown'in Figs.1 and 4, and

thereby seats the suction-valve on the inlet port 17, and thereuponcompression of the,

gas in the compression cham continues until the piston nears the lowerlimit of its stroke. The sleeve havin been thus loweredbelow the planeof, the exhaust port 13, as soon as the piston-head passes be ort theexhaust begins and'continues (in icated by'the arrows 0) untilthe pistonagain starts on its return stroke. In

the meantime, and before the exhaust is com-- er begins and pleted,thepiston head .will have passed be]- low the sleeve ports 32 and thegas under V pressure in the passage-way 33 will have begun to flowtherefrom through the ports 32 inward and u ward .into the explosionchamber, as -ind1cated by the arrows a. When the piston reaches thelower limit of its thrust, as shown in Fig. 1, the cycle of.

actions will have been completed.

.Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patentis-z.

1. In an explosive engine, the cpmbination with casing members providingthe compression and explosion chambers and an in-. termediate cylinderhaving an interior circular structure forming an annular inlet portincommunication with the com resthe suction in said chamber, a pistonwithin i the cylinder in position to' separate the comression chamberfromthe explosion chamizo,

er, and a sleeve on the piston ar anged to be reciprocated by the downstroke of the piston to seat said valve and by the "up stroke to releaseit, substantially as set forth 2; In an explosive engine, thecombination with casing members roviding the compres sion and explosionc ambers and anintermediate cylinder having an interior circularstructure forming an annular inlet port in communication with thecompression cham- 11-5 sion chamber, of a ring suction-valve a apt- I edto be'lifted" from its seat on said port by necting them, supportedwithin the cylinder I the inlet port adapted'to be lifted ber, of a ringsuction-valve adapted to be lifted from its seat on said port by thesuction in said chamber, cylinder in position to separate the compression chamber from the explosion chamber, and a sleeve on the piston inproximity to the valve and slidable on and with thepiston a limiteddistance and serving on its downward movement to seat the valve and atthe limit of its upward movement to stop the upward movement of thevalve, substantially as set forth.

3. In an explosive" engine, the combination with casing members formingcompression and explosion chambers, of a cylinder conconcentric circularpartitions and separated from each other by an annular spac openat thetop and closed at. the bottom onstituting an inlet port, the outerpartition being separated from the cylinder by a space which connectsthe inlet port with the compression chamber, a ring suction-valve forthe inlet port adapted to-be lifted'by suction, apiston within thecylinder in position to separate the compression chamber from theexplosionchamber, and a sleeve thereon arranged to be reciprocated bythe piston to alternately seat and release 'saidvalve, substantially .asset forth.

4:. In an explosive engine, the combination members tormmgcompresslonwith casing and explosion chambers of a cylinder connectingthem, concentricbircular partitionssupported within the cylinder andseparated from each other by an annular space open at the; top andclosed at the bottom constitutlP iilll inlet port, the outer partitionbeing separated from the cylinder by a space which connects the inletport with the compression chamber, a ring suction-valve for by suction,a piston within the cylinder and casing in position to separate thecompression chamber from the explosion chamber, a sleeve slidable on andwith the piston a limiteddis-v tance and serving on its downward move lp the cylinder by a ment to seat the valve and at the limit of itsupward movement to stop the upward movement of the valve, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In an explosive engine, the combination with casing members formingcompression and explosion chambers, and a cylinder con; necting suchmembers but separated from a portion of the base of the explosionchamber member by acircular space constituting an exhaust port,concentric circular partitions in the lower pbrtion of the cylinderseparated from each other by an annular space open at the top and closedat the bottom constituting an inlet port and separated from space whichconnects said inlet port with the compression chamber; of a ringsuctionvalve for said inlet port a piston within the compression of thepiston,

adapted tobelifted by suction, a piston Within the cylinder and casinginposition to separate the compression chamber from the explosionchamber, a sleeve slidable on and with thepiston for seating the ringcheck-valve and alternately. opening and closing the exhaustport,thesleeve being separated from the cylinder by a space connected withthecompression chamber and portion of the base of the explosion chamberspacewonstitutmg an member by a circular exhaust port, interior ribsextending along the cylinder walls and an interior structure supportedby the ribs and forming an annu; lar inlet port to the compressionchamber, of a piston within the cylinder and casing in position toseparate the compression chamber from the. explosion chamber, a sleeveguided by said cylinder ribs and arranged on and slidable on and withthe piston to positions to exhaust port and having ports past which thepiston head reciprocates, and which serve, when the piston is near theend of its inward stroke, as ports for connecting the chamber with theexplosion chamber, and a ring suction-valve for said inlet port adaptedto be lifted by the piston suction during its outward stroke and tobeseated by the sleeve during the inward stroke substantially as setforth.

7. In an explosive engine, the combinationwith casing members formingcompression and explosion chambers, and a cylinder. connecting suchmembers but separated from a portion ofthe base of the explosion chambermember by a circular space constitutingan exhaust port, a rimprojecting; inwardly from the top of thecylinder, interior ribs atintervals extending along the cylinder walls from the rim to thebase andconcentric circular partition walls united at the bottom and supportedby the ribs in the lower por tion of the cylinder, the annular 'spacebetween said partition walls constituting an alternately open and closethe inlet port to the compression chamber, of a a piston within thecyllnder and casing in osition to separate the compression cham er fromthe explosion chamber, a sleeve guided by said cylinder ribs and rim andarranged on and slidable on having ports past perportion e exploslon andwith the piston and which. the piston head .re-' ciprocates and having aprojection for alward stroke to connect the compression chamber with theexplosion chamber, and a ring suction valve held to its seat on saidinlet port by the sleeve on the downward movement of the piston andlifted to .contact with said sleeve by suction on the upward movement ofthe iston, whereby the piston movements contro in proper sequence theinlet port tothe compression chamber, the flow of gas from the latterthrough the sleeve ports to the-explosion chamber, and

the discharge the exhaust outlet, substan- I name to this specification.in the presence of 15 two subscribing witnesses'this 20th day of tJanuary, 1910.

JAY F. XVOOLF. Witnesses:

CHAS. H. DIXON, J NO. D. FARRAND.

